I close my eyes, take a deep breath and head into what I thought was my biggest dream when I was a littlegirl.
As I open the door, lights caress the stage, inviting me to the center. The judges sit ten rows back, patiently waiting for my music tobegin.
I’ve been practicing but nothing could prepare me for this moment. I’m nervous, anxious and scared shitless but when the music starts all of that fades away. My body moves with the music, fluidly andsoftly.
I twirl and leap and bounce around the stage, living my dream for this one moment. I feel so alive, so light, as if I’m floating on acloud.
I end the audition in a dramatic bow and the applause I get from the judges is all I need. Check that box off with a thick redmark.
* * *
Connor
The freeness washingover me as I sit at work is one I haven't felt in years. It's pure happiness, and it extends to every aspect of mylife.
I can't believe I've fallen so hard for Mackenzie, but I totally have. It's not like I just met her. I've known her for years, and I'm shocked I'd been soblind.
Even though I'm working on a really tough case, I have a smile on my face the entireday.
Around two there's a knock on my office door. It’sTracy.
"Hey, sis, you heading home?" I ask, pushing away mylaptop.
"Yup. Do you have aminute?"
I sense something's up. "Please don't tell me this is about Mackenzie and me. Look, I know she's your best friend, but we've just… I'm not sure what's going on, but it's good. I really likeher—"
"She's sick." She stands behind a chair, gripping it like she needs the strength it might giveher.
I close my eyes for a brief moment, confused. "Huh?"
She sits. "I shouldn't be the one to tell you, but I'm afraid it's going to be too hard for her to do it. She really likes you. Like, really, really likesyou."
"I'd say the feeling is mutual." I lean back, letting everything she’s saying sinkin.
"I feel like I'm letting my friend down by going behind her back, but you're my brother, and I can't stand here and watch, knowing what Iknow."
"How serious is thissickness?"
"She has a brain tumor. She moved to San Francisco to be in a case study, but as of right now there's no cure. They've given her twelve to fifteen months tolive."
Tears slip from my sister's eyes, and I can't help mine from doing thesame.
We sit in silence. What can be said? I found someone, someone I really enjoyed spending time with, and nowthis?
My first reaction is from the lawyer in me. There’s got to be something I can do, something I can research, but a tumor must mean she has cancer, and the word cancer is all the truth Ineed.
That one word, the most vile word in the English language. The word that has ripped so many lives to shreds, caused so many heartaches, and cut way too many livesshort.
I don’t want to believe what I’m hearing. I keep repeating in my head that it’s not possible. I was with her last night and for the past week. How could I have noclue?
It only takes one look at my sister’s face to tell me that it’s really happening, and the girl who has pushed her way into my life is dying. My life shatters into a millionpieces.
"I'm so sorry." She finally breaks the silence. "I really thought you should know. I saw the way you looked at her, and I could tell you were falling hard. I just don't want you to gethurt."
I nod trying to breathe even though my chest feels like it’s been hit with a brick. "Tell me the details," I ask, picking up a pen to take notes. I need to research it fully so I can beprepared.
"It's a glioblastoma tumor. I guess it has all these fingers or vine-type things that wrap around your brain, slowly eating it away. That's why they can't just go in and remove it. It's too big and too intertwined. She had surgery a few months ago and they were able to get most of it except for the little fingers. Her symptoms mostly went away after the surgery, but they say it’s only a matter of time before theyreappear."
